Wire joint



y 1958 w. F. RICHARDSON 2,841,424

WIRE JOINT Filed Sept. 26, 1955 United Wmn sonar William F. Richardson,{:arthage, Mm, assignor to Flex- O-Lators, Inc., Carthage, Mo acorporation of Mrssouri Application September 26, 1955, Serial No.536,591

2 Claims. (Cl. 287-49) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in wire joints, and has particular relation to jointswherein it is desired to connect firmly together a pair of wires inintersecting relationship.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of ajoint of the character described which secures the two wires together insuch a manner that they are prevented positively from movinglongitudinally relative to each other, and also so that they cannot tiltrelative to each other, or twist or turn axially. The joint as shown isintended primarily for connecting wires together in and around thespring assemblies of furniture upholstery, but it will be apparent thatthe inventive concepts involved have an application to wires or rodsgenerally.

Another object is the provision of a wire joint of the class describedwhich is economical and extremely simple, the only piece used inaddition to the wires themselve being a simple clip which may be easilyformed of strip metal.

Other objects are efiiciency and dependability of operation,adaptability to function efficiently even if the clip should work loosedue to repeated flexing, adaptability to hold the connected wires in anydesired angular relation, and adaptability to join wires of unequalsizes.

With these objects in View, as well as other objects which will appearin the course of the specification, reference will be had to thedrawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a face view of a wire joint embodying the present invention,taken at right angles to the general plane in which the two wires arepositioned,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line llll of Fig. l, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line III III of Fig. 1.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the severalviews, and the numerals 2 and 4 apply respectively to the two wires tobe joined. The wires are illustrated as unequal in diameter todemonstrate that the joint is applicable to .join wires of differentsizes, but it will be apparent that the wires could be of equal size ifdesired. One of the wires, usually the heavier wire 2 if the wires areunequal, is crimped at 6. at right angles to the final plane of the twowires. The depth of the crimp, on its concave side, is equal to thediameter of wire 4. Wire 4 has a relatively elongated bight 8 formedtherein and extending at right angles to the general run of the wire.Said bight has generally parallel side reaches 10 and a connectingportion 12.

The wires are laid together as shown, with the connecting portion 12 ofbight 8 lying in crimp 6 of wire 2, and with the parallel side reaches10 lying parallel to and substantially against wire 2 directly adjacentcrimp 6.

2,841,424 Fatented July 1, 1958 A sheet metal clip 14 is then clampedabout reaches it? of wire 4 and the coextensive portion of wire 2. Asshown in Fig. 3, the upper edges of both wires lie in a single plane.This relationship is provided by forming the depth of crimp 6 equal tothe diameter of wire 4, and by the use of a special clamping tool,forming no part of the present invention, which holds the wires in therelationship shown in Fig. 3 as clip 11.4 is drawn tight. This coplanarrelation of the wires at the upper surface of the joint is especiallyuseful where a large number of mutually right-angled wires are to bejoined to form a wire fabric or mesh for supporting padding or the likein upholstery work, since it presents a smoother supporting surface.

This joint is deemed to have numerous advantages. It is easily andeconomically formed. It lends itself well to the accurate assembly, by acustomer, of pro-formed parts, since the crimping 6 and bights 8 can bemachineformed by the manufacturer. Each wire is positively lockedagainst longitudinal movement relative to the other wire, againstrotation around its own axis, and against tilting around the axis of theother wire. These relationships are maintained even though clip 14 mayenlarge and loosen due to repeated and continuous stresses on the joint,so long as portion i2 of wire 4 is retained in crimp 6 of wire 2. It isquiet, reducing to a minimum the rubbing or grinding noises soobjectionable in upholstery and other applications. it lends itself verywell to the holding of the wires at substantially any desired anglesimply by forming bight 5 to project at any desired angle from thegeneral run of wire The holding power and rigidity of the connection isenhznced the formation of clip 14 with an axial length substantiallygreater, preferably at least two or three times greater, than thediameter of the wires to be joined. This prevents any angling betweenwire 2 and reaches ill of wire 4.

While I have shown and described a specifific embodiment of myinvention, it will be apparent that many minor changes of structure andoperation could be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A Wire joint comprising a first wire crimped at a point to form anindentation therein, a second wire disposed angularly to said first wireand extending through the indentation thereof, said second wire beingtransversely offset adjacent said first wire and having the connectingportions at said ofiset lying against and parallel to said first wire,and means rigidly joining said first wire and the connecting portions ofsaid second wire.

2. A wire joint comprising a first wire crimped at a point to form anindentation therein, a second wire disposed angularly to said first wireand extendin through the indentation thereof, said second wire beingtransversely offset adjacent said first wire and having the connectingportions at said oifset lying against and parallel to said first wire,and a clip encircling and clampingly joining together said first wireand the connecting portions of said second wire.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS586,439 Ivins July 13, 1897 1,051,126 Lachman Jan. 21, 1913 2,333,869Larkin Nov. 9, 1943

